Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Songis a sprawling nonlinear adventure that allows you to choose your own path and does very little to hold your hand along the way. Your first big decision, of course, will be to choose one of the eight main characters with whom you wish to begin your adventure.
Related:Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song - Beginner Tips & Tricks
While you’ll be able to recruit all of these characters later, every main character will have particular quests and interactions that are unique. You should absolutely do a playthrough with each of them eventually — a task the game will reward you for accomplishing — but some characters certainly shine brighter than others.
8Aisha
A young girl fighting for her people, Aisha provides the best insight into the world of the Taralian Tribe and their life in the Steppes of Galessa. Yet, aside from her unique introduction, she probably will have you hurting in your first encounters in the game — especially if this is your first playthrough.
Aisha is a comparatively weak character, with low stats in nearly all her combat areas. you may obviouslycustomize her later on,and turn her into a force to be reckoned with, but she presents a serious challenge for newcomers to the game.
7Sif
A Viking-esque warrior from the frozen lands of Valhalland, Sif is one of the sturdiest characters in the game when it comes to combat stats. She has very high HP levels, high STR and VIT, early proficiency in multiple weapons, and moderate stats in just about every other slot except for WIL.
Related:Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song - Sif Starting Walkthrough
However, where Sif shines in terms of combat prowess, she lacks in terms of story. Aside from her opening in Valhalland, there isn’t much that you can’t already experience in a playthrough with Albert, and overall, Sif doesn’t have as many character-specific sequences in the game. Still, if you are looking for a sturdy warrior woman, this is absolutely your best option.
6Jamil
A thief from South Estamir who sets out to take down a sleazy loan shark, Jamil has an excellentstarting storyand is a fun character to play. Aside from his story beats and unique contribution to quests, his companion Dowd is exclusive to a Jamil playthrough (the first time around) — which provides another impetus to experience Jamil’s story.
In terms of combat, Jamil is a much weaker option. While he has high AGI and DEX, he has very little STR, low HP, and a moderate level of INT. This means he provides a more difficult introduction to the game’s early enemy encounters.
5Gray
A swordsman wandering the land, accompanied by the powerful warrior Galahad and the magic-wielding Myriam, Gray is a strong character with great flexibility. Playing with him will give you immediate access to a handful of other locations, and you may easily embark on a unique path early in the game.
Likewise, Gray is a tough character with good stats that grow at a faster pace than other characters. His LP may be more limited, and the openness associated with his character might overwhelm new players, but he isa formidable starting character.
4Albert
Most players familiar with Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song advise newcomers to begin their first playthrough with Albert, and there’s good reason to follow that advice. He has a lengthy starting story arc, his background gives insight into the troubles plaguing the world, and he arguably offers the most linear introduction to what is otherwise a very nonlinear game.
Related:Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song - Albert Starting Walkthrough
If you are looking for a bit more hand-holding in your first playthrough, Albert is undoubtedly your safest bet. Still, if you are looking for more open-ended gameplay from the get-go, there are better characters to choose from.
3Barbara
Barbara is a traveling entertainer on the frontier, and as one would imagine from a roaming artist, she offersthe most open-ended playthroughof all the characters in the game. Aside from granting you access to a huge chunk of the map from the get-go, she also comes with her stage manager Herman and a traveling wagon that will let you avoid enemies on the road.
In terms of combat, Barbara also acts as either a good tank or healer and has a comparatively high BP regeneration rate. Finally, Barbara also comes automatically equipped with a Fatestone, which gives you an extra boost in the world.
2Hawke
A pirate who begins the game amidst a sea of enemy encounters, Hawke is a unique character who starts off unlike any other — opening his story arc with a betrayal by his fellow pirates. While this might be a little bit disorientating to new players, things even out quickly, and his story becomes a bit more guided.
Related:Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song - Hawke Starting Walkthrough
Accompanied by his Geckling companion Guelle Ha, Hawke himself is a balanced character in combat and comes equipped with good swordplay, an axe, and an affinity forwater-based magic. This is in many ways an optimal character if you are looking for a good mix of unique story, good dialogue, moderate openness, and a balanced starting character.
1Claudia
Claudia is an orphaned girl who was raised by a mysterious witch named Eule in the Mazlewood forest, and who carries a particular affinity for animals and the natural world. Her story is incredibly unique, with connections to the game’s loftier characters, and she also starts the game with two (fairly powerful) animal companions that are exclusive to her playthrough.
Claudia is not the strongest character, yet her ability with a bow is actually quite formidable and her animal companions are powerful early in the game. She wins out in the ranking by combining her excellent story, her connection to the game’s lore, her starting companions, and her suitability for a first playthrough. This is an excellent character for anyone looking for a story-rich introduction to the world of Mardias.
